Pressure regulator



Dec, 19, 1939.

HuG..Es

PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Sept. 24. 19157 PRESSURE REGULATOR Ralph c. Hughes, Anderson, nur.; assignmto Reynolds Gas Regulator Company, Anderson,

Ind a corporation of Indiana Y .v Application september 24, 1931, seal No. 165,537 's oisans. (orfana-4) :This invention relates tol pressure regu-- lators and particularly to a diaphragm actuated pressure regulator having an automatic shut-oil to preventthe escape v of gas consequent upon '5jrupture oi the diaphragm. This,- therfore, is

the general object' of the'present-invention.

- A more specific object" of this invention is the provision of. agas pressure regulator in which the vent thereof will close consequent upona f Lrpture of the diaphragm and wherein the regu.-

lator will be automatically moved to a wide open position consequent upon the closing of such n vent, thus eliminating the eifect of the regulator consequent upon an inadvertentvrupture of the diaphragm thereby. maintaining a flow of gas .despitethe faillne o f. the regulator.

Another objectv of the present invention is thel provision of an improved gas regulator having an. automatic safety shut-01T .which regulator will be simple in construction, easy to manufacture. which may be sold at a minimum expense to the purchaser, and wherein replacement of the 0p-l erating parts is facilitatedv byv the simplicity of the valve and parts thereof.

Other objects of the present invention will be come more apparent from the following description, reference beingr had to the drawing where. in preferred forms of the invention are illustrated. -The essential novel features; of the invention willbe summarized in the claims.

In the drawing,k Fig. l is an elevation of my improved pressure regulator; Fig. 2 is a'vertical.

section taken throughtheregulator, as indicated I by the lines 2-2 on Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a horizontal tain parts being partially broken'away to more clearly illustrate the internal construction of the regulator; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section, similar to Fig..2 but on a reduced scale, and illustrates a modified form of valve.

Gas regulators, of the type with 'which this invention is particularly concerned are especially adapted for use in connection with householdl appliances such" as gas rangesf refrigerators, I- irons and the like'. Such appliances require a. I comparatively low but constant gas pressure as compared with the line pressure. Likewise, some appliances such as refrigerators, require a much lower pressure than other appliances, hence it becomes advantageous to connect the regulator in the gas supply line at a point adjacent the appliance. Indeed in some instances the regulator maybe placed withinthe'housing of the appliance.

. 55 For the moet.. part, gas regulators comprise' a 'n and sold ata low cost.

. section taken along the-lines 3-3 of Fig. 2, cermovable diaphragm \to..which' a valve is' at- -1 tached controlling the flow of 'gas-through the supply line. The valve is normally retained open by a spring andJ is closed by a predeterminedl pressureof gas on the appliance Vside ofthe dia- 5 phragm, the other side of the diaphragm is vented to atmosphere. Thus if the diaphragm, which generally comprises a comparatively thin mehr` brane of sheepskin or composition material, is inadvertently ruptured because of prolonged iilex-V l0 ing or hidden defects.' gas will escape through the rupture and vent. ,When the regulator is ,contained ywithin the housing of 'a gas appliance the escape of gas becomes .exceedingly dangerous. Even though the amount of escaping. gas 4115.-

,is comparatively small it may' nevertheless collect within the housing of the appliance and cause serious fires or explosions. 'I'he regulator ofv the. present invention prevents the escape of gas and thus insures safe operation of the regu-r 20 lator and is so constructed `that it may be made Referring again to the. drawing, and especiallyto Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, it will be seen that my improved regulator comprises a lower casing I0 25 .and an upper casing II. These casings are separated by a sheep skin or otheriiexible diaphragm I2 andare secured together, asv for instance by bolts Il, lwhich due to their clamping actionon f the two casingmembers, also serve to maintain. 30

'- the diaphragm in position.

The lowercasing I0 has an inlet port I4 and an outlet port I5, both of which are threaded toA permit the regulator to be attached in series with the lgas supply line in the usual manner. v3i;

These portsi I4 and li'are separated by a wall ,I6 having a horizontal portion through which extends a valve opening Il which may be .closed by a valve I8 mounted on a vertically "extending valve stem- IS-.and positioned below the'v valve 40 opening Il so thatu the latter is closed by an upward movement of .the valve.'l

-The valve stem I9 -is supported by the diaphragm I2. As shown in Fis. 2 a pair of'discs or weights 20 embrace the diaphragm and' are 45- clamped together by the valve stem I9, which ex- 1 tends through such discs andgdiaphr'agm.- land' threaded at its upper end whereby a nut 2| may clamp the discs and diaphragm a shoulder 22 formed onthe steml.' I l. .d0 The diaphragm dividesthe space within the casings into an upper cham and a lower j chamber 24. The lowercham 2l Vis in constant communication with the gas in the outlety side of the valve while theupper chamber 2l .'Ii` 55 i well as the cap 34.

normally vented -to atmosphere as will be he'reinafter more fully explained. Thus the diaphragm normally prevents the escape of gas from the supply line to the upper chamber and into the appliance housing within which the regulator may be positioned.

The gas pressure on the under side of the diaphragm is opposed by the-weights of the discs 20 and the pressure of a spring 30. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper casing has a tubular extension 25 which extends upwardly therefrom. This extension is provided with internal threads 26 and external threads 21. Threadingly engaging the threads 26, within the extension 21, is a perforated plug or sleeve 28. The spring 30 extends between the sleeve and the uppermost diaphragm disc 20. The plug is provided with a slot 29 for engagement by a suitable tool to permit the pressure of the spring 30 against the diaphragm to be adjusted and thus to permit an adjustment of the maximum pressure on the outlet side of the regulator. v

'Ihe upper end of I.he extension 25 is provided with a seat 3| which supports a second diaphragm 32. This diaphragm. 32 is clamped against the seat 3| by a cap 33 which is maintair ad in engagement therewith by a sleeve or cap 34 which threadingly engages the external threads 21 of the extension 25.

The diaphragm extends across the upper opening in the extension 25 closing the same to the atmosphere and provides a chamber 35 between the inner face of the caps and the diaphragm. This chamber is in constant communication with the atmosphere by means of a comparatively small passageway 36. y

The diaphragm 32 may be of any flexible material which is impervious to gas, as for instance a sheep skin disc. Normally this disc assumes the position shown in Fig. 2 by reason of its own weight.

'As heretofore mentioned the chamber 23, above the main diaphragm I2 is vented to atmosphere. As shown in Fig. 2 the upper end of the sleeve 34 is internally enlarged providing an annular chamber 31 between it and the extension 25 as This chamber extends downward to a point below the plane of the diaphragm seat 3| and is in'constant communication with the interior 4of the extension 25, and thus the chamber 23, by reason of a passageway 38 in the side wall of the extension 25. 'Ihis passageway 38, for a purpose hereinafter to be explained is smaller in cross-sectional area than the passageway 36 in the cap 33 previously described.

Normally a passageway 39 in the cap 33 maintains the chamber 31 also in communication with the chamber 35 between the cap 33 and the supplemental diaphragm 32, and thus in communication with atmosphere through the chamber 31 and the passageway 36 heretofore described. This passageway has a downwardly facing port 40 adapted to be closed by the supplemental diaphragm, consequent upon the inadvertent rupture of the diaphragm thus closing the vent between chamber 24 and the exterior of the valve casing.

In thenormal operation of the valve the main diaphragm I2 exes in response to the gas pres. sure in the outlet line thus raising and lowering the valve I8 relative to its port I1 thereby regulating the pressure of the gas at'the outlet side of the valve. During the normal iluctuation of the main diaphragm, the chamber 23, thereabove, is vented to the atmosphere through the hollow without requiring additional parts.

sleeve and around the impervious supplemental diaphragm 32 through the passageway 38, the chamber 31 and the passageway 38, thence into the chamber 35 and through the passageway1 36 to the exterior of the valve. The arrangement of the supplemental diaphragm 32, and the various passageways is such' that the supplemental diaphragm is unaifected by the normal iluctuations of the main diaphragm, thus insuring proper breathing of the valve under normal operating conditions.

When the main diaphragm ruptures, the gas flows therethrough raising the pressure in the chamber 23 and, due to the restrictive size of the passageway 38, this increased pressure raises the supplemental diaphragm against the port 40 of the passageway 39 thus closing the egress of Vgas from the valve chamber 23. Continued seepage of gas through the ruptured diaphragm further increases the pressure in the chamber 23 until it is equal to the inlet pressure of the valve. The weight of the discs 20 and the pressure of the spring 30 therefore act t0 maintain the valve I8 wide open. Thus, for all practical purposes the regulator valve is rendered inactive permitting the gas appliance `to be used until the valve can be repaired by replacing the diaphragm, the increased pressure at the appliance serving to notify the user that such replacement is required.

While I have described the supplemental diaphragm as being made of sheep skin or other impervious material, I sometimes prefer to make such diaphragm of a comparatively thin resilient spring metal, such Aas steel or brass. Such diaphragm is dished substantially as the dia.- phragm 32 is shown in Fig. 2 and when subjected to gas pressure on its under side, due to the rupture of the main diaphragm I2, springs upwardly reversing th direction of the dish therein and closing the port Il. Such a metal diaphragm has advantages'over he leather diaphragm in that it is much less responsive to rupture, thus increasing the safety of the valve, and also permits the use ofthe valve in an inverted position In fact a metallic supplemental diaphragm operates equally as well regardless of the position of the valve and hence provides a fool proof safety shut off which is operative even though the installation of the regulator should be faulty, that is out of a normally vertical position; and this is accomplished without adding any parts to the valve mechanism.

In Fig. 4, I illustrate a modifiedl form of valve. 'I'his modied valve includes all of the elements` and parts hereto ore described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 incl ive. These parts are therefore given the same reference numerals and need not be described in detail again. In addition to the parts heretofore described, the valve illustrated in Fig. 4 is provided with a second valve member IBA. This valve member is secured to the valve stem I9 above the valve port I 1 between the inlet and outlet openings of the valve.

The normal operation of the modified form of valve is substantially the same as that heretofore described in connection with the valve shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. However, when the main diaphragmV I2 inadvertently ruptures the lowering of the valve stem, as heretofore described causes the valve member I8A to close the valve port I1 thus entirely cutting off the flow of gas to the appliance. Likewise, if for any reason the flow of gas into the valve is stopped the absence sismo of gas pressure-under 'the main diaphragm will permit the spring 30 to cause the valve meniber I IA to close thel port I1, and maintain it closed even though the main line pressure to the valve be restored. Inthis form of valve the valve' stem I! is provided with an. auxiliary stem I9A which extends upwarmy through 'the sleeve 2eso that when the cap 33 and supplemental diaphragin 32 have been removed, this stem extenline pressure is Vsohigh that it might be danger- `sion may be grasped to raise the valve stem and'- place the valvein operation.

The valve shown in-Flg; 4 is advantageously used under conditions where the main or inlet gas ous to open the regulator fullconsequent upon the v rupture of the diaphragm, or where the inlet 'pressure nuctuas to suenan' extent that the iiame of the accessory might be extinguished due to the lack of pressure. In .the latter instances the-valve of Fig. 4 not onlyprevents the dangers which might result fromaninadvertent rupture f of the regulator diaphragm, but alsoprevents those dangers which might result from anabextingulshing of the VI claim: f t

1.` A safety seal for a gas pressure regulator of v normal reduction of line pressure and consequent appliance iiame.l

` the type having a casing .and a substantially enclosed chamber, one wall of which comprisesfa pressure responsive diaphragm adapted and arranged to actuate a valve member, said s'eal comprising a supplemental gas impervious diaphragm closing the upper end of the chamber in the regulator casing, a hollow cap, a sleeve secured to said casing and adapted and arranged toclammsaid cap fand supplemental pressure responsive diaphragm thereon, a restricted' but normally open passageway extending'from said chamber through said casing and sleeve into said hollow cap, a second passageway extending through the hollow cap v and communicating with open air, said supplemental diaphragm being actuatahle consequent n `upon the presence of gas pressure in saidchamberbetweensuch diaphragm a'nd the regulator- -diaphragmtobemoved to apositiontostopthev owotgasthroughsaid l lhsafcty'sealroragasregulatoro! phragm, a sleeve threadingly Secured to said castending from' the chamber in the casing through the casing andsaid sleeve. into said-hollow cap, a

second passageway extending' through the hollow y cap and communicatingwithopen airfsaid sup-i plemental diaphragm beingsactuatable consequent upon the iiow of gas into' the chamber .between the two diaphragms to moveto aposition to stop the` ilow of gas through thev -iirst-uamedv passageway into the hollow cap.q1g l y 3. A safety seal fora gas pressure regulator of thetype having a casingproviding a. chamber.' one wall of whic comprises a pressure responsive' gasimpervious operi at its upper' end, said seal comprising a supplemental gfas impervious` metallic diaphragm extending across the upperlendoi said chamber and closing the opening therein, a hollowy cap removably positioned above; the .supplemental diaing and' adapted and arranged'toclamp said capl and second-named diaphragm thereon, a restricted passageway extending fromvnon-press'ure chamber between thelre'gulatorjtdiaphragm and the supplemental diaphragm'through the regulator casing and sleeve into 'saidhollow cap above the supplemental diaphragm, 1 a' second passageway extending through vthegholl'ovv 'ca'p and communicating with open air, said supplemental diaphragm being normally spaced-from said cap a'ctuatable automatically consequent upon'the,

presence of gas-pressuregtherebeneath to raise to a position tabut Said f yp and -s'topthe ow of gas through the first-named eway into the hollowcap aphragmada'pted and arranged i to actuate a valve member, wherein the chamber is 

